Tasmania has the highest rate of assaults against corrections officers by prisoners as the Gutwein Government continues to chronically understaff the system and place staff at risk.
Shadow Corrections Minister Ella Haddad said serious on-going concerns in relation to staff and inmate safety were highlighted by the damning findings of today's Report on Government Services which also shows Tasmania has the second highest incidence of assaults by prisoners against other inmates.
"The fact is the Corrections Minister Elise Archer has a mountain of evidence on her desk telling her the situation at the prison remains on a knife's edge but she refuses to act and she refuses to listen," Ms Haddad said.
"The prison remains overcrowded, staff numbers are often too short to safely operate individual shifts and working conditions are dangerous.
"Safety is being compromised on a daily basis for both staff and inmates.
"Ms Archer has received countess reports from the Custodial Inspector outlining these facts and her inaction led to stop work action last year - but she still does not act."
Today's ROGS reveals assaults against staff by prisoners occurred at a rate of 2.7 per 100 prisoners - by far the highest in the country and up from 0.6 per cent in 2013-14
Prisoner on prisoner assaults occurred at a rate of 17.5 assaults per 100 prisoners - the second highest rate in the country and up from just five per cent in 2013-14
"These numbers should be a wake-up call for Ms Archer.
"I urge her to get on with the job of ensuring the safety of the corrections system finally becomes a priority.
"She can no longer ignore what is right in front of her."
Ella Haddad MP
Shadow Corrections Minister
